{"id":4523,"date":"2021-07-30T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=4523"},"modified":"2023-05-05T11:02:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T18:02:39","slug":"stairway-to-heaven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/stairway-to-heaven\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; Sheet Music and Tutorial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>&#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; sounds GORGEOUS on the piano. And you can play it too! This lesson includes both a tutorial and free sheet music for &#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; by Led Zeppelin. Learning this piece as a beginner <em>may<\/em> take some practice, but it still sounds good at a slower tempo and practicing it will teach you a lot about rhythm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/d1923uyy6spedc.cloudfront.net\/264116-resource-1627596452.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&lt;&lt;Download the FREE Full Score Here&gt;&gt;<\/a><\/strong><br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/d1923uyy6spedc.cloudfront.net\/264116-resource-1627596470.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&lt;&lt;Download the FREE Lead Sheet Here&gt;&gt;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>This rock anthem doesn&#8217;t follow the usual verse-chorus-bridge structure, so we&#8217;ve broken it down into an introduction and four sections. I&#8217;ll also show you how to embellish your left-hand accompaniment with your own chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#intro\">Intro<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#a-b\">Sections A and B<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#c\">Bridge (Section C)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#d\">Rock Section (Section D)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#chording\">Chording<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>While &#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; is a notoriously long song, guess what: you only need to learn a few sections because there are tons of repeats! So let&#8217;s dive in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/led%20zeppelin%20live.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on stage. Robert Plant (long curly blond hair) is singing into mic. Jimmy Plant (long brown hair and white suit) is playing double necked gibson guitar.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Robert Plant and Jimmy Page live in Chicago, 1977. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jimsummariaphoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jim Summaria<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"intro\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the iconic intro to the rock masterpiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of music theory, though, it&#8217;s a pretty simple intro. In fact, you can break the intro down into some very basic chord shapes. If you know these chord shapes already, you&#8217;ll be able to play the introduction in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fingering may take a little practice, so if you&#8217;re new to crossing over and tucking under, feel free to write down fingering that will help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20sheet%20intro.png\" alt=\"Stairway to Heaven sheet music mark-up of the introduction showing fingering and descending chromatic bass line.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While that&#8217;s happening, the left hand walks down a series of half-steps. The fancy word for this is <strong>chromaticism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may recognize the chord shapes on the right hand like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>A &#8211; 1st Inversion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20to%20heaven%20Am%201st%20inversion%20copy.png\" alt=\"Keyboard diagram and staff notation of A Minor in 1st inversion.\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>D &#8211; 2nd Inversion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20to%20heaven%20D%202nd%20inversion%20copy.png\" alt=\"Keyboard diagram and staff notation of D chord in 2nd inversion.\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong>F7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20to%20heaven%20F7.png\" alt=\"Keyboard diagram and staff notation of F7 chord.\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-b\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Sections A and B<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sections A and B are kind of like verses 1 and 2 in a typical verse-chorus structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the A section, the bass line stays similar to the bass line in the intro. Meanwhile, the right hand plays a melody that fits quite neatly under the right hand. You won&#8217;t have to cross over until the G at the end of Fmaj7!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20sheet%20section%20A.png\" alt=\"&quot;Stairway to Heaven&quot; sheet music mark-up of Section A with fingering in right hand.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first and second endings of Section A have trickier fingering. A tip here is to look ahead: be aware of what fingering you&#8217;ll have to use in the next measure and you won&#8217;t be hunting for notes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bass line changes <em>slightly<\/em> during the B section, but the right hand stays pretty similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20sheet%20b%20section.png\" alt=\"Stairway to Heaven section B sheet music mark-up of different bass line.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s what I love so much about this song \ud83d\ude42 It&#8217;s a very long song but it&#8217;s never boring because, although some areas some similar, there are these tiny little details that keep you curious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"c\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Bridge (Section C)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In this section, we&#8217;ll add a little pep in our step. The energy lifts, the tempo increases, and some extra sixteenth notes add even more quickness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20to%20heaven%2016th%20notes.png\" alt=\"Section C Stairway to Heaven sheet music with counting mark-up of sixteenth notes.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re unfamiliar with rests and sixteenth notes, feel free to write down the counting like we do here. But if it makes more sense to you, and you know the song well, rely on your intuition! When it comes to pop songs, sheet music is a guide rather than definitive instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udcdc\ud83c\udfb9<strong><em> HISTORY BITE:<\/em> <\/strong>&#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; wasn&#8217;t an instant success. In fact, Led Zeppelin claims its inaugural performance was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/music\/2014\/oct\/22\/stairway-to-heaven-unreleased-mix-led-zeppelin-iv-remastered\">met with boredom<\/a>. With its unusual structure and need for multiple types of guitars, it was also challenging to play live. Nevertheless, the song has become legendary, inspiring young rockers for generations and making Jimmy Page&#8217;s double-necked Gibson an iconic instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"d\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Rock Section (Section D)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll recognize this section right away. It&#8217;s the part where you wanna belt: &#8220;<em>And as we wind on down the road!<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may notice there are some unusual rhythms in this section. What&#8217;s with all those dotted eighth notes?? Don&#8217;t worry, the video runs through them in detail, and I&#8217;ll also show you how I write in the rhythms on the sheet music. Yup, experienced musicians do this too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p>We&#8217;ve broken down the rhythm into &#8220;1-e-and-a 2-e-and-a&#8230;&#8221; which means each syllable represents one sixteenth note beat. You&#8217;ll also see that I write the first syllable of each count under the note as a quick way to tell on which syllable to play a note.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/stairway%20-%20dotted%20eighths.png\" alt=\"Stairway to Heaven sheet music with counting mark-up on dotted eighth notes\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chording\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Chording<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to play &#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; exactly as it&#8217;s written \ud83d\ude42 If you want a little more creative license with the song, use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-piano\/#6-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lead sheet<\/a> (which just has the melody and the chords) and add your own accompaniment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to add accompaniment is to play with the fifth shape in the left hand, then change the bass notes according to the slash chords while your thumb stays in place. This sounds so pretty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><video playsinline=\"\" autoplay=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Stairway%20to%20Heaven%20Tutorial\/fifths%20shape%20-%20compressed.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use the <a href=\"#intro\">chord shapes<\/a> we mentioned in the introduction to improvise your own accompaniment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; will take some practice, but I hope this sheet music and tutorial help! Practice in chunks, count out loud, and when you&#8217;re comfortable with it, don&#8217;t be afraid to get dramatic and rock out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;And if you&#8217;re a rock fan, don&#8217;t forget to check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/guitar-riffs-on-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">these riffs<\/a> that sound better on the piano than guitar! (At least that&#8217;s what we think \ud83d\ude09 )<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to play &#8220;Stairway to Heaven&#8221; with free sheet music and tutorial. Includes note-by-note guide, fingering, and chording tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":4547,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1105,508],"tags":[1133],"class_list":["post-4523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pop-rock","category-song-tutorials","tag-survey"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4523"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10751,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4523\/revisions\/10751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}